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Nov 27, 2016

Devotion for 27 November-Christmas Cookies

A brief prayer is offered that you can add to your daily
prayers this week. The scripture is from our Sunday Service Bulletin for
today. Today is the first of four Advent
sermons where we will explore “Christmas” as an adjective instead of a noun.

Epistle Reading: Ephesians
4:31-5:2 (English Standard Version)

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor
and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be
kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ
forgave you.Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And
walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant
offering and sacrifice to God.

Devotion: Christmas
Cookies

When I think of a Christmas cookie I think of a sweet treat
that is made by a loving family member or friend. When we look at Verse 32, it
has Paul telling Christians how to behave: “kind, tenderhearted, forgiving”.
Those characteristics are of someone with a “sweet” attitude and disposition.
May I say that a person who does that, might be called a “Christmas Christian.”
Now when we get to forgiveness, you may feel that forgiveness is easier said
than done in some situations and it may be the hardest thing a Christian will ever
face. This Advent season, can we Christmas Christians work a little harder on
that forgiveness recipe and try to sweeten any bitter situation we may have?

We pray: Lord help us
to find ways to forgive, just as you always do for us. Amen